Ok.... Bought my car a couple months ago. It has a gammit of issues I'm sifting through, and many of them I have figured out myself. This one though....has me COMPLETELY stumped....

When I bought the car the Central Vacuum Pump was connected EXCEPT for the big blue plug. When I connect the plug to the pump, the locks seem to work correctly.... at least for the first few seconds. So then I get in the car, and start it.... and all seems great.....until I go to turn the car off....

I can turn the key AND PULL IT OUT from the ignition.... but the systems in the car keep running?!?!?

The only way to get it all to shut down is to head back to the trunk and once again disconnect the blue plug..... which leaves me without power locks again.

Any ideas? Any one have an issue like this before....or know how to fix it?

 

I've never heard of this exact problem but honestly I'd check your ignition switch. Then see if you have a short somewhere to your central locking.

 

My car does the same thing. Theres a recall for 96 and 97 a4s for the ignition switch. My ignition stays engaged so the starter stays on, so i have to turn the key back a little bit. And to turn the car off, turn it back more with a little bit of pressure and pull the key out. That works for mine every time, but theres a key lock in the ignition switch, so sometimes you have to bust it open with a flat head screw driver.

 

I'm thinking it's gotta be a short....or some crossed wires.... or something like that. I plugged the pump in again today, and stood outside the car. I happily locked and unlocked the car and all seemed okay....until I looked inside the car. It was like magic.... the whole dash was lit up, the radio was turned on, and the vent was blowing....non of which by my hand. It was like the car was on....but the engine wasn't running....

And there I stood....OUTSIDE of the car....key in hand. I had never even turned the car on. So what, do I VagCom the thing and see what comes up for central locking? If there is a short, do you think it's "IN" the pump of is there somewhere else I should look?

 

I will say this. Just because it "seems" like one thing that does not mean you can diagnose it like that. I've learned my lesson the hard / long way lol. There are several things that could cause it. Yes a short is one and makes sense but without looking at the wiring diagram for your ignition there is nothing you can say to diagnose it.

The easiest thing to do would be to look at the pump and see if it's visually damaged. Perhaps water damage?

Also have you even scanned the module with VAGcom?